So, France has banned television programs for children under the age of three-years old. The High Audiovisual Council, in a ruling published Wednesday, said it wanted to "protect children under 3 from the effects of television."

France's minister for culture and communication, Christine Albanel, issued a "cry of alarm" to parents in June about channels dedicated 24 hours a day to baby-targeted programming. In a newspaper interview, she called them "a danger" and urged parents not to use them to help their children get to sleep.

No word on whether the French will soon be banning the world from calling them “weak-kneed cowardly sycophants”.(Let the criticism begin…)

So, Usain Bolt can most certainly wear the title of the “World’s Fastest Man”…additionally, he has also been awarded the titles “Biggest A-Hole in Track” and “Ego-trackster”.

The guy begins his celebrations far before he crosses the finish line and should be taught how to act in victory…(Let the criticism begin…)

So, sad news regarding LeRoi Moore, the sax player from the Dave Matthews Band. He left us yesterday as a result of injuries he suffered in an ATV accident in June. He was a talented musician and the band will miss his contributions.

So the manager of the New Zealand Men’s Field Hockey team was ejected from their match against Germany the other day because three of his team members were wearing black underwear under their white shorts.

No, you read that correctly…there seems to be a rule that uniforms must be consistent or some crap like that. This is a perfect example of what is wrong with sports today. They regulate the color of your underwear????

On another note…Men’s Field hockey????? Are you messing with me? These guys should be wearing thongs if they are going to be playing Field Hockey. What, couldn't they make the Tiddly-Winks Team in high School???(Let the criticism begin…)

So you probably know that Heath Ledger was filming Terry Gilliam's"The Imaginarium of Dr. Parnassus" at the time of his death. Johnny Depp, Jude Law, and Colin Farrell stepped in to complete Heath's role, playing different versions of his character "Tim." "Tony" (thanks Starr!)

When the three actors learned that Ledger's will had not been updated to include his daughter, the generous trio decided to donate all the money they earned from the film to little Matilda!

That is very cool and even though I think Jude Law is a turd, I commend him along with Depp and Farrell.

So, is it getting chilly out there again? Seems Norway has posted the following on it’s Defense Ministry’s web site: "Norway has noted that Russia has decided for the time being to 'freeze' all military cooperation with NATO and allied countries,"

Russia is acting like it wants all its territory back (well at least Georgia), and now, if this happens, we might be in for “Cold War 2 – Ruskies Revenge”.

So, you have to love Forbes…they come up with these lists that just make you shake your head…two I came upon yesterday made me laugh. The first is “10 Most Overpriced Zip Codes In The US”. Can you guess?

Willow Glen, San Jose, CA

Rose City Park, Portland, OR

Greenway Parks Devonshire, Dallas, TX

Coronado, Phoenix, AZ

Outer Sunset, San Francisco, CA

Mission Hills, San Diego, CA

West Hollywood, Los Angeles, CA

Downtown, Seattle, WA

Chinatown, Boston, MA

Tribeca, New York, NY

The second was “The Worst Cities For Commuters In The US”…OK, think about that…

San Francisco, CA

Los Angeles, CA

Houston, TX

Washington, DC

Tampa, FL

Dallas, TX

Orlando, FL

Miami, FL

Detroit, MI

Atlanta, GA

I was surprised to not see Boston or New York on this list. People always complain about New York, but if you are smart, you use the great public transportation there. Boston is a total nightmare IMHO, even worse than New York. I have experienced Atlanta traffic and it is horrendous for sure. I thought people moved to Florida to RETIRE! LOL But they have 3 of the top 10.

I think this is one of my all time favorite Allman brothers songs...one that does not get much notice..."Please Call Home" from the IDLEWILD SOUTH album released in September of 1970. This is from vinyl and there are a few pops left...can't get 'em all.

I will agree wholeheartedly on the issue about French TV ... and Bolt. He's got amazing talent - and an ego big enough to fill the track stadium. I saw an interview with an IOC official, saying he was not impressed with Bolt's showboating.

2. Bolt definitely loves to ham it up. Good thing he can come up with the goods, but I, too, would like to see a bit more humility. Glee is one thing (think Misty May-Treanor and Kerri Walsh), but Bolt's exuberance is a bit obnoxious.

3. The music world just got a bit hollow.

4. I dunno - if field hockey is anything like lacrosse in its violence, I think it qualifies as a sport. But regulating underwear? WTF?

5. I hadn't heard the original story, but thanks to bloggers like you and Starr, I'm getting the details here. Nice step by Depp, Law (Mr. I Can't Keep my Dick in My Pants), and Mr. Farrell (Mr. Please, DON'T Call Me Will!)

6. Russia has ALWAYS wanted to reform its former Soviet Union. Not that they could take care of its people any better now than they could then, mind you.

7. Number 4 on Forbes's list is an absolute truth. I completely concur. The houses in this supposed historic district are as overpriced as any in the Bay Area or SoCal. Tiny, tiny cracker boxes for nearly a million. Ridiculous. But at least our city streets aren't considered worst for commuters!

SONGBIRD: 1-LOL yup; 2. yup yup; 3. It sure did; 4. Not sure it is that violent...yoou can hit the shins though!; 5. LOL "don't call me Will" LOL; 6. But if they take over countries again...; 7. Thanks for the insight

STARR: Thanks...corrected...Parents need to be parents...Icky is right...LOL I was wondering who would ask for underwear only...You can have 'ot lanta...I just report em...It is ummm... How the hell do I know...I live in Memphis!

first, I grew up in Willow Glen...graduated from Willow Glen High School. Twenty-thirty years ago Willow Glen was just starting to come back from being an old neighborhood with its own barrio. It is a lovely place now...many homes from the 20's and 30's remodeled on wide tree lined streets.

Next...in high school...much of my time was centered on field hockey...its like soccer with a weapon...and actually a hell of a violent game. I saw most of the games during the 1984 Olympics in LA and they were GREAT!

What is with the French? They lead the world in nanny-state laws.

Usain "lightening" bolt does have a bit of an ego...not unlike some american athletes we know...no criticism...

Maybe we ought to start a pool on which counry Russia will invade next...did you see the news about them pulling out of NATO....

I'm guessing he was thinking he was 27, Vinny. Most people even those with kids don't think about wills in their 20's. I didn't. My parents didn't. Heck even my grandparents didn't. No one expect to die at 27 =(

Good point although I am not sure how many "people" he had. If you look at his stats on Box Office Mojo, Heath wasn't really making all that much per film. Even Brokeback failed to crack the 100 million boxoffice mark.

That would have changed of course had he lived. He'd easily be in the asking 10 mill per picture range.

Either way it was very nice to see these three step up and I agree, this has the Depp stamp all over it. The guy had his Capt Jack outfit flown in from Disney and spent a week of evenings in costume reading to sick kids at the hospital that took care of his daughter.

STARR: Well, like the first thing I did when I separated was to take my insurance and change the beneficiary to Matt from his mom...I think people today are more attuned to these things than our parents were.

JENNIFER: They think they have the right in some areas...They are WRONG!I-20 is one of those roads that will never be finished...sort of like O'Hare Airport...they have been doing construction there since the early 90's

You feel it too??? The earth may be experiencing Global Warming, but I feel a cold (war) draft coming from Siberia. The Russians will rise again!**Checks calender** As to the question you asked me a few posts ago...the 29th doesn't work for me, as the puppy will be heading out West on vay-kay! Guess you will have to dust your own house. Sorry about that....:P

The French are still pissed that the Australia got the Wiggles and they didn't.

As for Bolt, I'm sort of in the middle. I totally agree that his antics would be much more palatable if toned down his ego a few notches, but I also saw some footage of him clowning around with some of the other runners before hand. I think that's just his natural personality showing through.

I also try to remind myself that he is only twenty-one years old and it helps (a bit) to put it into perspective. At the same time that doesn't mean he should get a free ride at being an egomaniac.

Well have I sufficiently stayed neutral? Maybe I should move to Switzerland.

On a completely different note, I'm glad you "forced" me into using Firefox. I'm finding several features better than IE so far. One of which is spell check in the comment sections. Wahoo!!

Today I mourn the loss of a man who competed hard between the lines. After the game, he showed respect to his opponent and respect to the game he played.

Mr Bolt might benefit from the lesson that part of your victory is showing respect to your defeated opponent. You can explode in joy, but don't forget that on the other side of your victory is one who came up short. It diminishes nothing to offer your hand as one competitor to another.

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I got into blogging to express myself. It has led me to sharing my life, my passion for food, my fiction and my love of music.
Music On The Couch is a passion for me. Sharing "Musicians You Should Know" and helping those who appear on the show to grow their audience.